Improvement in boots and shoes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN KIMBALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VIMPROVEAMENOT IN BOOTS AND SHOES.

vTo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oHN KIMBALL, of Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts, have made anew and useful Invention havingreference to Shoes and the Soles thereof; and I do hereby declare thesame to be full y described in the following specification andrepresented in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of a shoe made in accordance with my invention.Fig. 2 is a transverse section, of it. Figs. 3 and 4 represent outersoles of such a shoe with a layer of cork applied thereto and arrangedthereon in accordance with my invention. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectionof the combination represented in Fig. et. Fig. 6 is a transversesection .of the combination as exhibited in Fig;

My object in making myinvention has been to construct a cork-soleil shoeor boot without the ordinary binding1 ot leather, which, in the commonwayof making such a shoe,is stitched to the upper and turned around theedges of the stratum of cork, and which not only renders the shoe orboot very expensive in its fabrication, but liable, when in use, tobecome worn, so as to expose the cork at its edges.

With my improvement there can be no such exposure of the cork, as Iemploy no binding of leather stitched to the inner sole and bent laroundthe edge ofthe cork andover and upon that surface ot' it which comesnext to the outer sole.

1n carrying out my improvement I so combine or arrange a leather soleand a stratum ot' cork that there may be a narrow border or" the leatheror sole circumscribing the edge ot' the stratum of cork.

In Figs. 3 and 6 the outer sole is shown at a and the stratum of cork atb. ,The border or space of the outer sole which circumscribes the edgeof the cork is shown at c. In this case the cork is to be chamferc'ddown at its edge,so as to enable the border to lay upon 'and in contactwith the upper when stitched to the inner sole.

The construction indicated by Figs. 3 and 6 will suffice for thin-soledshoes; but wheneverit lnay be desirable to make wh atis usually termed athick or double soled shoe an additional strip, c', of sole-leather mayencompass the edge of the cork b, and be fastened to the leather sole aby means ot' tacks, so as to thicken the outersoleat its edge. Thesurface ot' this addition-piece c will come in contact with the upperwhen the cork is applied to the insole of a shoe. When the leather is ofsufficient thickness it may be plowed out to receive the cork; but asthis would be an expensive procedure, I prefer to increase the thicknessof the edge of the sole by an addition such as is represented at cinFigs. 4 and 5.

In each instance the outer sole, in case it is to be sewed to the shoe,is to be provided withA a crease, d, to receive the sewing. A shoe asmade with cork applied between its inner and outer soles and arrangedwith respect to their edges, a-s hereinbefore explained, is shown inFigs. l and 2, in which a is the outer sole, b the layer of cork, c theinner sole, and fthe upper or upper-leather. The sewing is shown atg. Itgoes through the soles, the cork, and the upper, and thus they are heldtogether by it. There is a great advantage in carrying the sewingthrough the cork, as it is better held in place by it and prevented frombecoming cracked 4while in use. IVhen cracked it loses its water-proofquality in a measure, it' not eutirely. Nails may be substituted for thesewing, but they are not so useful. Its appearance is like that of acommon shoe without any cork sole, and thus has aiinish neater than thatof a cork-soled shoe as heretofore made.

I claim as my invention- Y 1. Theimproved manufacture or shoe, as madewith a layer of cork so arranged between its inner and outer soles thatthe leather ot' the outer sole may come in contact with the leather ofthe upper where it laps over the inner sole, (the same being so as tohide the edges ot' the cork,)and the soles, cork, and upper be united bysewing or nails, as specied.

2L The improved manufacture of water-proof sole for boots or shoes, itbeing composed of leather and cork arranged with a border or a piece ofleather circumscribing the cork, as and for thel purpose set forth.

JOHN KIMBALL.

Witnesses:

It. H. EDDY, F. I. HALE, Jr.

